Recoil-pad for guns



J. R, WINTERS. EEGOIL PAD FOR GUNS.

.(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 6, 1.895.

Witnesses:

Agtorney.

UNITE STATES -ATENT RECOlL-PAD FOR GUNS.

SPECIFICATION fomning part of Letters Patent No. 544,269, dated August6, 1 895.- Application filed September 24, 1894. Serial No. 523,955. (Nomodel.)

- To all 2071 0122, it may concern:-

Be it known that I, JACOB R. WINTERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Clinton, in the county of Henry and State of Missouri, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Recoil-Pads for Guns, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being bad therein tothe accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an improved pneumatic recoil-pad for gun-stocks;arid it has for its object the production of a pad'fo-r use on muskets,shotguns, and the like, which will protect the user from the recoil ofthe gun when fired,which can be readilyand conveniently applied to andremoved from the gunstock, and which can be folded' into a small packagewhen not in use.

Pneumatic recoil-pads or shoulder-guards have heretofore beenconstructed with a number of small rubber tubes placed close togetherand forming air-cells open at the ends. Pads of this form areobjectionable in that they have no provision for inflation beyondatmospheric pressure, and therefore lack the essential element of aperfect air-cushion. Another form of pneumatic pad has also been used,which consists of a strip of rubber attached at its ends to thegun-stock, and having'guiding-studs projecting from its inner face andentering recesses in the butt of the stock. Apad of this form is open tothe same objection as the one mentioned above, because the air-chamberis open to the outside atmosphere; but aside from this objection thereis still another in that the butt of the stock must .be speciallyprepared to receive it, causing its disfigurement when the pad is not inplace.

In my recoil-pad there is but a single airchamber, and it is normallyclosed to the outside atmosphere, but is provided with means whereby itmay be inflated to any desired degree by use of a small air-pum p.

The invention will first be described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, and then pointed out in the claim.

Figure l.is an elevation of a gun, showing the stock provided with myimproved recoilpad. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical central section of aportion of the same, showing the valve closed. Fig. 3 is a verticalcentral section of my pad detached, showing the valve open. Fig. 4 is anenlarged broken sectional view of so much of the pad as is necessary toshow the valve and its manner of operation.

Referring to the drawings, A is the gun, the stock a of which isprovided with my improved recoil-pad.

B is the recoil-pad, made of elastic material, preferably of softrubber. In therear end of the pad there is formed an air-chamber C, the

front wall 0 of which is shaped to conform to the pad, and is exteriorlyscrew-threaded for the receptign oft-a small air-pump(not shown) toforce air iuto the chamber to inflate the pad and thereby form aneifectiveair-cushion, and also for the purpose of receiving a cap 5 whenthe pump is detached. Spanning the air-inlet on the inner side is anarrow strip 6, of rubber or other elastic material, cemented orotherwise secured at its ends to the lower wall of the chamber, and onthis strip, in register with the air-inlet, is formed or secured a valve7, adapted to automatically close the said inlet against the escape ofair under pressure.

The forward end of .the pad is in the form of a sleeve I), adapted tofit over and closely embrace the butt of the gun-stock, whereby the padis held in place by its own elasticity.

When it is desired to use the recoil-pad, the cap 5 is removed and thepipe of a small airpump screwed on the projecting end of the tube 2. Airbeing forced into the tube the valve is forced from its seat, theelastic strip 6 permitting the necessary movement, and the air entersthe air-chamber C. When the action of the pump is stopped, the pressurebehind the strip 6, aided by the latters elastic ity, returns the valveto its seat, thus preventing the escape of the air. hen desired, the airmay be allowed to escape by forcing the too valve inward from its seatby any suitable instrument and the pad can then be folded into a.eempamatively smallpaekage.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

An elastic recoil-pad having an air-chamber, an air-inlet openingleading into said chamber, an elastic strip spanning said openthe valveis adapted to close said opening in;-

dependent of the pressure within' the chamber.

' JACOB R. WINTERS.

Witnesses:

J. A. DE LA VERGNEH, D'. .TAeK BARNETT.

